After a strong four-year career at Florida, Erik Murphy is hoping to follow in his dad’s footsteps and play in the NBA.

Murphy hired Andy Miller of ASM Sports as an agent and is working out in Las Vegas with renowned strength and conditioning coach Joe Abunassar. Miller’s clients have included former Gator center Marreese Speights (Cleveland Cavaliers) and former UF point guard Taurean Green.

The 6-foot-10 Murphy is considered an NBA prospect due the combination of his size and shooting ability. Murphy, who averaged 12.2 points as a senior, led the Southeastern Conference in 3-point shooting percent at 45.3 percent in 2012-13.

Most NBA mock draft websites currently have Murphy projected as a mid second-round pick. Draftxpress currently has Murphy going 48th overall (18th pick, second round) to the Los Angeles Lakers.

“They’ve told us that if he does well in the workouts, he could move up to late in the first round,” said Murphy’s father, Jay Murphy. who played four seasons in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards before continuing his career overseas. “But he could also fall out of the draft if he doesn’t work out as well. So it’s a wide range. I think Erik is prepared for what’s in front of him.”

Murphy struggled in his final two Florida games, going a combined 2 of 18 from the floor against Florida Gulf Coast and Michigan. A stomach illness bothered Murphy earlier that week, though he refused to use it as an excuse for his performance. Murphy’s goal moving forward will be earn an invite to the NBA predraft camp in Chicago from May 15-19.

Murphy and senior teammates Kenny Boynton and Mike Rosario all graduated over the weekend. Murphy earned his degree and recreation, parks and tourism, while Boynton got his degree in sociology and Rosario got his degree in criminology.

Boynton and Rosario also will try to line up workouts before the NBA draft, but both are considered longer shots to get their names called on June 27. Boynton is working out in Las Vegas with Murphy, while Rosario has returned to his native New Jersey to prepare for the draft.

About This Blog

Kevin Brockway gave up on his dream of becoming a lefty starting pitcher for the New York Mets when he walked four straight batters, then hit one in a middle school game in Suffern, N.Y. Since graduating college in 1993, he’s worked as a sports writer at daily newspapers throughout the state of Florida, beginning with the Key West Citizen. He then moved on to the Northwest Florida Daily News and Naples Daily News before becoming the men’s basketball writer for The Gainesville Sun in 2003. Brockway has won multiple state and national writing awards during his 16-year career. Favorite pastimes include karaoke and watching baseball. Favorite college hoops team growing up was St. John’s.